Yukio walked back to his room, and laid in his bed as the sunset atmosphere changed to nighttime.

So...first day is almost over, and I haven't done or learned anything. I should search more, but those ghosts...I don't know what to do about them.

"Ugh...has the past really come back to get me?" Yukio wondered, as he got up from his bed.

You know what?! I'm going to find someone else who knows what's going on and get answers.

Yukio left his room, and went to the beach. He looked towards the forest with an uneasy expression.

Maybe Sayuri knows about these ghosts, and how to deal with them. Where could she be at the time like this? Will she even tell me?

Yukio walked around the beach, he hoped that she would be there. However, he saw the ghosts of past Shinobi doing various activities on the shore. The ocean glowed blue from the moonlight, as the sand glowed white from the ghosts.

These Shinobi...have all died in battle? I wish...there could've been something to prevent them from dying that way. I wish I could go back in time now.

"Looks like they're having fun though." Yukio let out a sigh, and smiled.

Why are the ghosts of the girls different from these ghosts? Asuka and the others can't see them, but I can...why?

"They don't seem to be here." Yukio said to himself.

"May I ask who you're looking for?" A voice surprised Yukio. He turned around and saw Ryoki.

"Oh, it's nothing." Yukio dismissed the question. "I haven't seen you since you were with your sisters."

"Oh yes, they've told me a lot about you, and how helpful you've been to them." Ryoki smiled, then bowed to Yukio. "Thank you for taking care of my sisters."

"They wanted to avenge you. I see that as how much they really cared for you." Yukio replied.

"Honestly, you did the right thing by stopping them. I never wanted my sisters to become killers." Ryoki replied, her expression changed to one of remorse. "It's my fault for dying in the first place."

"What kind of logic is that?! It's not even close to being your fault. It's that damned Yoma's fault for killing you." Yukio reassured Ryoki.

She was taken aback from his slightly aggressive response, but smiled and looked up to the starry sky.

"Thanks for saying that." Ryoki bowed again to Yukio.

"You're gonna make me blush with all the thanking." Yukio looked away, slightly flustered.

Yukio looked back towards the ghosts, then at the halo on Ryoki's head.

She's another case I don't understand. She's  a nice person, but why was she not turned into a ghost? Why her, as opposed to Yumi's grandpa, or Miyabi's mother?

"Well, I've got to get ready for tomorrow. I'll see around." Yukio said.

"Very well...oh, would you mind helping me with something, please?" Ryoki asked before Yukio could leave.

"I don't mind, what is it?" Yukio responded.

"Ryobi has been acting nervous around me lately. I'm not sure as to why, but...could you ask her for me?" Ryoki requested.

"I see...of course I'll help, but she might not be willing to tell me." Yukio answered.

"If Ryobi thinks of you as she speaks, she'll always be willing to talk with you." Ryoki replied, with a reassuring smile.

"Huh...then I'll ask her whenever I see her. Goodnight, Ryoki." Yukio said, and he walked back to the hotel.

Well, I've learned what the ghosts do at night, and that Ryoki and Ryobi have a complex relationship. However, I didn't learn a thing about those ghosts.

"Man...I'm back to square one again." Yukio said to himself as he entered the lobby of the hotel.

"Oh. Yukio, what's up?" A voice called towards Yukio, and he got chills down his spine.

I know that voice...and I've been afraid of it for almost a year now.

Yukio suddenly felt a slap on his back. Which made him grunt, and almost made him fall forward.

"Ugh! What the hell was that, Homura?!" Yukio exclaimed, his fear slightly increased.

"What? Can't handle a mere slap?" Homura taunted. "You're so soft, it makes you look too easy to kill."

Well, I'm tired of getting killed by her.

"Ugh...what do you want?" Yukio said, he wanted to escape into his room.

"Uh...you ok, Yukio? Am I really that scary?" Homura asked, and Yukio simply nodded. "I see, I guess that's what I get for trying to kill you...a couple times."

What's worse is that you've succeeded in most of them!

"Well, I'm just trying to be cautious in this place." Yukio lied.

"I get what you mean, I have a feeling something's going on here." Homura tried to change the subject.

"Sayuri wouldn't tell me anything either. She says I'm not ready to know the truth." Yukio complained.

"What the hell?! Something's up with that old hag, and I'm gonna find out!" Homura said, as she clutched her fists.

"Just don't do anything stupid, I don't want anyone to die here." Yukio said.

Now that I think about it. Do my powers work inside a barrier like this? I've died multiple times in normal barriers, but this one has some kind of time spell involved in it, so I'm not sure.

"If something happens here, the first person that will die is you. You're the 'special role' that barely matters." Homura countered.

Yukio went silent, the thought of his life actually coming to an end is a one that terrified him.

What happens...if I die here? Do I finally die? Would this curse finally be...lifted? I...what am I thinking?!

"...I'm going to bed." Yukio suddenly said, as he walked away from Homura.

"Oh, ok then. Goodnight, Yukio..." Homura stared at Yukio as he walked upstairs to his room.

Yukio entered his room, and collapsed on his bed. He had multiple thoughts that wouldn't leave his head.

If I die, I can finally be free of this curse! No, I can't die, I can't leave everyone behind! But this entire time...this ability has brought me nothing but pain, so much pain! But...where would I be, without this ability...I'd be dead as a nobody. I can't take it anymore...I just need to know if I can die here or not.

"Can I...really die? J-Just to test it. Can I really be...killed?" Yukio said, he looked at the balcony of his room.

I-It's just a test. A test to see if I can die here.

Yukio's heartbeat was so loud, as he opened the balcony door, and stood on the railing. He looked down and saw the pool area 10 floors below him.

"I-It's just...a test..." Yukio closed his eyes, as he was shaking.

But what if...this test actually kills me?

"YUKIO, STOP!" A voice shouted, as they grabbed Yukio, and pulled him back from the balcony.

"H-Huh?" Yukio's vision was blurry from the sudden fall, but he saw Homura on the verge of tears. "H-Homura?"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! I knew you were acting weird, but I didn't expect this!" Homura yelled.

"I-I...I was..." Yukio couldn't think of a response.

"Don't you dare do that! Why would you even think of killing yourself?!" Homura continued. "After everything you've been through, after everything that could've killed you before, why are you so scared now?! You have no right to chicken out! You have no right to!" Homura voice kept breaking while she held back her tears.

"Homura...but I've been-" Yukio stopped himself, he was about to talk about his curse, but he didn't want to use it as an excuse.

"If you wanted to die, you should've let me killed you back then! Now I'm never gonna kill you!" Homura continued shouting at Yukio. "You matter too much to me now!"

"Huh? Homura...did you just say-" Yukio was interrupted.

"Shut up! I know what I said, damn it! I'm never going to forgive you if you kill yourself, got it?! So never do that again, please?!" Homura shouted, and then finally released her emotions as she hugged Yukio.

Meanwhile, Yukio was so taken aback by Homura's speech. He couldn't tell if he was dreaming or not. He hugged Homura back while she cried into his shoulder.

After about 10 minutes, Homura finally let go of Yukio, and her face suddenly went red.

"J-Just...don't do that again, ok?" Homura said, completely flustered.

"Yeah...thank you so much, Homura. I didn't expect you to care this much about me...that makes me very happy." Yukio's eyes started tearing up too.

When I first met Homura, I saw someone who only wanted to kill me. She looked at me like I wasn't worth her time...but now, she just saved me from making a big mistake. She reminded me that these girls get hurt the most when I die, and now she sees me as someone worth having around.

"A complete 180 from when we first met, haha." Yukio chuckled, as his tears suddenly started to flow down his face. "That really does...make me feel a lot better."

"T-That was only because you were a target, I wouldn't kill you if you weren't!" Homura explained, still flustered.

"Sure..." Yukio didn't believe her, but accepted her excuse anyway.

"Just...promise you won't do that shit again, please?" Homura requested.

"I promise." Yukio replied. "I'm gonna head to sleep now."

"Good, you better!" Homura said, before she headed out of Yukio's room. "Goodnight, Yukio!"

"Goodnight, Homura. Thanks again for saving me." Yukio replied, and watched Homura leave his room.

Now then, straight to bed.

Yukio quickly got ready for bed, and he fell asleep.

To be continued...